Cup Sleeve and Cup Assembly

ABSTRACT

A cup sleeve is capable of engagement with a cup lid when being sleeved around a cup. The cup lid has a sleeve engaging member. The cup sleeve includes a sleeve body formed with a receiving space for receiving the cup, and including a bottom portion, a top portion that is opposite to the bottom portion, a surrounding wall that extends from the bottom portion to the top portion, and a lid engaging unit that is formed on the surrounding wall that is proximal to the top portion for interlocking with the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid. A cup assembly is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priorities of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application Nos. 105121131 and 105126990, filed on Jul. 4, 2016 and Aug. 24, 2016, respectively.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a cup sleeve and a cup assembly, and more particularly to a cup sleeve that is capable of engagement with a cup lid and a cup, and to a cup assembly including the cup sleeve in engagement with the cup lid and the cup.

BACKGROUND

A conventional disposable cup assembly generally includes a cup lid and a cup sleeve which are separated from each other and independently engaged with a cup. The cup lid includes a cover portion formed with a drinking outlet, and a surrounding portion surrounding the cover portion and formed with a clipping groove. The cup has a top flange adapted to be clamped in the clipping groove of the cup lid.

When the disposable cup assembly is used by a user for receiving a hot drink (e.g., hot coffee), the cup lid will expand due to heat of the hot drink, and will be easily detached from the cup. If the cup lid detaches from the cup and the hot drink inadvertently spills out from the cup, injury to the user may be unavoidable.

Furthermore, the cup sleeve is frictionally secured on the cup and there is no other fixing structure therebetween. The cup sleeve is also easily separated from the cup. In order to solve the problem of release of the cup sleeve, it is proposed to form a heat isolating foam layer that is directly attached to and surrounds an outer surface of the cup. However, in this case, the manufacturing cost of the cup would be unavoidably increased.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a cup sleeve that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a cup sleeve is capable of engagement with a cup lid that has a sleeve engaging member when being sleeved around a cup. The cup sleeve includes a sleeve body formed with a receiving space for receiving the cup, and including a bottom portion, a top portion that is opposite to the bottom portion, a surrounding wall that extends from the bottom portion to the top portion, and a lid engaging unit that is formed on the surrounding wall that is proximal to the top portion for interlocking with the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a cup assembly includes a cup lid, a cup, and a cup sleeve.

The cup lid has a cup surrounding portion formed with a clipping groove, and a sleeve engaging member extending from the cup surrounding portion.

The cup has an upper portion formed with a top flange and an open end surrounded by the top flange, and a lower portion opposite to the upper portion.

The cup sleeve is detachably engaged with the cup lid and sleeves around the cup. The cup sleeve includes a sleeve body formed with a receiving space for receiving the cup, and including a bottom portion, a top portion that is opposite to the bottom portion, a surrounding wall that extends from the bottom portion to the top portion, and a lid engaging unit that is formed on the surrounding wall and that is proximal to the top portion.

The top flange of the cup is clamped in the clipping groove of the cup lid. The lid engaging unit is engaged with the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid. The sleeve body cooperates with the cup to form a heat insulating gap therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a cup sleeve according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a cup assembly according to the disclosure including the cup sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the cup assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the cup assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating another configuration of the cup assembly;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating yet another configuration of the cup assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the cup assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating another configuration of the cup sleeve;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view illustrating still another cup assembly including the sleeve of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating yet another configuration of the cup sleeve;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view illustrating another cup assembly including the cup sleeve of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view illustrating another configuration of the cup assembly;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating the cup assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view illustrating another configuration of the cup assembly;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the cup sleeve shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating the cup assembly of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating yet another configuration of the cup sleeve; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating still another configuration of the cup sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a cup sleeve 10 according to the disclosure and a cup assembly including the cup sleeve 10 engaged with a cup lid 20 and surrounding a cup 30 are illustrated.

The cup lid 20 includes a cup surrounding portion 22 formed with a clipping groove 224, and a sleeve engaging member 23 extending from the cup surrounding portion 22. In the embodiment, the cup lid 20 further includes a cover portion 21 surrounded by the cup surrounding portion 22. The cover portion 21 is formed with a liquid outlet 214 that is proximal to the cup surrounding portion 22, a recess 215 that is adjacent to the liquid outlet 214, and a protruding tab 213 that removably covers the liquid outlet 214. When the protruding tab 213 is rotated to be clipped into the recess 215, the liquid outlet 214 is exposed for drinking. The cup surrounding portion 22 includes an inner region 221 that extends peripherally and upwardly from the cover portion 21, an outer region 222 that extends peripherally and downwardly from the inner region 221 so as to cooperate with the inner region 221 to define the clipping groove 224 opening upon the cup 30. For example, the clipping groove 224 may have an inverted U-shaped cross section. The sleeve engaging member 23 is connected to and extends peripherally and upwardly from the outer region 222, such that the sleeve engaging member 23 cooperates with the outer region 222 to define a lifting portion. For example, the lifting portion may be a V-shaped groove opening opposite the clipping groove 224.

The cup 30 has an upper portion 31 that is formed with a top flange 311 and an open end 312 surrounded by the top flange 311, and a lower portion 32 that is opposite to the top portion 31.

The cup sleeve 10 is detachably engaged with the cup lid 20 and sleeves around the cup 30. The cup sleeve 10 includes a sleeve body 100 that is formed with a receiving space 13 for receiving the cup 30. The sleeve body 100 includes a bottom portion 12, a top portion 11 that is opposite to the bottom portion 12, a surrounding wall 17 that extends from the bottom portion 12 to the top portion 11, and a lid engaging unit 16 that is formed on the surrounding wall 17 and that is proximal to the top portion 11. The top portion 11 of the sleeve body 100 is formed with a top open end 111 and an indented edge 112 that extends downwardly from the top open end 111 toward the bottom portion 12 and that corresponds in position to the liquid outlet 214 of the cup lid 20. The top flange 311 of the cup 30 is clamped in the clipping groove 224 of the cup lid 20. The lid engaging unit 16 is engaged with the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20. The sleeve body 100 cooperates with the cup 30 to form a heat insulating gap 40 therebetween. The receiving space 13 has a cross section that is reduced from the top portion 11 to the bottom portion 12. In one form, the lid engaging unit 16 of the cup sleeve 10 includes a plurality of annularly spaced apart holes 161 that are formed in the surrounding wall 17, such that the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20 can extend through the annularly spaced apart holes 161 so as to be interlocked with the lid engaging unit 16.

In more detail, when the top flange 311 of the cup 30 is clamped in the clipping groove 224 of the cup lid 20 and the cup lid 20 is moved from the top open end 111 of the cup sleeve 10 toward the lid engaging unit 16 of the cup sleeve 10, the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20 is pressed by an inner surface 14 of the surrounding wall 17 of the cup sleeve 10. When the sleeve engaging member 23 is moved to the position corresponding to the lid engaging unit 16, the sleeve engaging member 23 partially extends through the holes 161 so that the sleeve engaging member 23 is interlocked with the lid engaging unit 16, and that the lower portion 32 of the cup 30 abuts against the inner surface 14 of the surrounding wall 17 proximal to the bottom portion 12 of the sleeve body 100 to form the heat insulating gap 40.

By virtue of engagement of the lid engaging unit 16 of the cup sleeve 10 and the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20 and formation of the heat insulating gap 40 between the cup 30 and the cup sleeve 10, the thermal insulating effect and safety in use of the cup assembly are improved.

Referring to FIG. 5, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the sleeve body 100 further includes a bottom rolled edge 17′ that is formed on the bottom portion 12 such that the bottom rolled edge 17′ abuts against a portion of the cup 30 between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 32 of the cup 30 so as to form the heat insulating gap 40 extending from the top portion 11 to the bottom portion 12 of the cup sleeve 10.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the lid engaging unit 16 includes an annular groove member 162 that is indented from the inner surface 14 of the surrounding wall 17 and protrudes from an outer surface 15 of the surrounding wall 17 for engaging with the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20. More specifically, the sleeve engaging member 23 partially extends into the annular groove member 162 for engaging therewith.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the surrounding wall 17 includes a plurality of upper tabs 163. Each of the upper tabs 163 extends into an upper part of a respective one of the holes 161 and is spaced apart from a lower end of the respective one of the holes 161 for abutting against the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the surrounding wall 17 further includes a plurality of lower tabs 164. In the other words, the surrounding wall 17 includes the upper tabs 163′ and the lower tabs 164. Each of the lower tabs 164 extends into the lower part of a respective one of the holes 161 and is spaced apart from the upper part of the respective one of the holes 161 for abutting against the sleeve engaging member 23 of the cup lid 20.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the sleeve body 100 further includes a pair of diametrically opposite position members 18 that are formed on the surrounding wall 17 and that are below the lid engaging unit 16. The cup sleeve 10 further includes a gripping member 50 that is connected to the position members 18. In the embodiment, the position members 18 are configured as apertures. The gripping member 50 includes a gripping strap 51 with two opposite ends 52. Each of the ends 52 has a pivotal latch member 521 that is engageable with a respective one of the apertures when the opposite ends 52 respectively pass through the apertures. Therefore, it is convenient and safe for the user to carry the cup 30 covered with the cup lid 20.

It is noted that the gripping member 50 is not limited to the gripping strap 51, and the position members 18 are not limited to the apertures. The opposite ends 52 of the gripping strap 51 are adhered to the surrounding wall 17 to form the position members 18 that are planar.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the top portion 11 of the sleeve body 100 has a top open end 111, and a gripping portion 65 that is formed integrally with the surrounding wall 17 at the top open end 111. In the embodiment, the top open end 111 of the sleeve body 100 has an annular thickened edge 64 that is formed on top of the surrounding wall 17, two diametrically opposite pivot parts 69 that are formed in the surrounding wall 17 beneath the annular thickened edge 64, and a tearing line 68 that is formed in the surrounding wall 17 and that is connected between and extends downwardly from the pivot parts 69. When a part of the annular thickened edge 64 above the tearing line 68 is pulled upward, the part together with the gripping portion 65 is separated from the surrounding wall 17 to form the gripping member 50.

The top open end 111 further has an indented edge part 611 that is formed along the tearing line 68 after the part of the annular thickened edge 64 is separated from the surrounding wall 17. The top portion 11 of the sleeve body 100 further has two pivot holes 67 each of which is formed at a connection of one of the pivot parts 69 and the surrounding wall 17.

With the formation of the pivot parts 69, undesired stress does not arise at the pivot parts 69 and the surrounding wall 17, and thus the structural strength of the surrounding wall 17 can be maintained. Furthermore, with the design of the tearing line 68, pulling the gripping member 50 upwardly can be more easily achieved.

Referring to FIG. 17, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, the top portion 11 of the sleeve body 100 has a non-indented top edge 612′, an indented top edge 611′ that extends downwardly from the non-indented top edge 612′ toward the bottom portion 12 and that corresponds in position to a liquid outlet of the cup lid (not shown), and a protruding portion 613′ protruding upwardly from the non-indented top edge 612′ to form the gripping member 65 and having a gripping hole 651. In one form, the top portion 111 of the sleeve body 100 has two of the protruding portions 613′ spaced apart from each other. Each of the gripping holes 651 is in the shape of a crescent moon.

By virtue of formation of the protruding portion 613′, it is more convenient for the user to grip the cup sleeve 10 with the user's finger passing through the gripping holes 651.

Referring to FIG. 18, in another configuration of the cup sleeve 10, each of the gripping holes 651 is circular.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cup sleeve capable of engagement with a cup lid when being sleeved around a cup, the cup lid having a sleeve engaging member, comprising: a sleeve body formed with a receiving space for receiving the cup, and including a bottom portion, a top portion that is opposite to said bottom portion, a surrounding wall that extends from said bottom portion to said top portion, and a lid engaging unit that is formed on said surrounding wall proximally to said top portion for interlocking with the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 2. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said lid engaging unit includes a plurality of angularly spaced apart holes formed in said surrounding wall.
 3. The cup sleeve of claim 2, wherein said surrounding wall further includes a plurality of upper tabs, each of which extends into an upper part of a respective one of said holes and is spaced apart from a lower end of the respective one of said holes for abutting against the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 4. The cup sleeve of claim 2, wherein said surrounding wall further includes a plurality of lower tabs, each of which extends into a lower part of a respective one of said through holes and is spaced apart from an upper end of the respective one of said holes to abut against the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 5. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said lid engaging unit includes an annular groove member that is indented from an inner surface of said surrounding wall and protrudes from an outer surface of the surrounding wall for engaging with the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 6. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said receiving space has a cross section that is gradually reduced from said top portion to said bottom portion and has a configuration topographically conforming with the cup such that said bottom portion of said cup sleeve is proximal to the bottom portion of the cup when said cup sleeve surrounds the cup.
 7. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said receiving space has a cross section that is reduced from said top portion to said bottom portion, said sleeve body further including a bottom rolled edge that is formed on said bottom portion such that said bottom rolled edge abuts against a portion of the cup between the upper and lower portions of the cup when said cup sleeve surrounds the cup.
 8. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said top portion of said sleeve body is formed with a top open end, and an indented edge that extends downwardly from said top open end and that corresponds in position to a liquid outlet of the cup lid.
 9. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve body further includes a pair of diametrically opposite position members formed on said surrounding wall below said lid engaging unit, said cup sleeve further comprising a gripping member connected to said position members.
 10. The cup sleeve of claim 9, wherein said position members are configured as apertures, said gripping member including a gripping strap with two opposite ends, each of which has a pivotal latch member that is engageable with a respective one of said apertures when said two opposite ends respectively pass through said apertures.
 11. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein said top portion of said sleeve body has a top open end, and a gripping portion that is formed integrally with said surrounding wall at said top open end.
 12. The cup sleeve of claim 11, wherein said top open end 61 of said sleeve body has an annular thickened edge formed on top of said surrounding wall, two diametrically opposite pivot parts formed in said surrounding wall beneath said annular thickened edge, and a tearing line that is formed in said surrounding wall and that is connected between and extends downward from said pivot parts, wherein, when a part of said thickened edge above said tearing line is pulled upward, said part together with said gripping portion is separated from said surrounding wall to form said gripping member.
 13. The cup sleeve of claim 12, wherein said top open end 61 further has an indented edge part 611 that is formed along said tearing line after said part of said thickened edge is separated from said surrounding wall, and said top portion of said sleeve body further has two pivot holes, each of which is formed at a connection of one of said pivot parts and said surrounding wall.
 14. The cup sleeve of claim 11, wherein said top portion of said sleeve body has a non-indented top edge, an indented top edge 611 that extends downwardly from said non-indented top edge toward said bottom portion and that corresponds in position to a liquid outlet of the lid, and a protruding portion protruding upwardly from said non-indented top edge to form said gripping member and having a gripping hole.
 15. A cup assembly, comprising a cup lid having a cup surrounding portion formed with a clipping groove, and a sleeve engaging member extending from said cup surrounding portion; a cup having an upper portion formed with a top flange and an open end surrounded by said top flange, and a lower portion opposite to said upper portion; and a cup sleeve detachably engaged with said cup lid and sleeved around said cup, said cup sleeve including a sleeve body formed with a receiving space for receiving said cup, and including a bottom portion, a top portion that is opposite to said bottom portion, a surrounding wall that extends from said bottom portion to said top portion, and a lid engaging unit that is formed on said surrounding wall and that is proximal to said top portion; wherein said top flange of said cup is clamped in said clipping groove of said cup lid, said lid engaging unit being engaged with said sleeve engaging member of said cup lid, said sleeve body cooperating with said cup to form a heat insulating gap therebetween.
 16. The cup assembly of claim 15, wherein said lid engaging unit includes a plurality of annularly spaced apart holes formed on said surrounding wall.
 17. The cup assembly of claim 16, wherein said surrounding wall further includes a plurality of upper tabs, each of which extends into an upper part of a respective one of said holes and is spaced apart from a lower end of the respective one of said holes for abutting against the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 18. The cup assembly of claim 16, wherein said surrounding wall further includes a plurality of lower tabs, each of which extends into a lower part of a respective one of said through holes and is spaced apart from an upper end of the respective one of said holes to abut against the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 19. The cup assembly of claim 15, wherein said lid engaging unit includes an annular groove member that is indented from an inner surface of said surrounding wall and protrudes from an outer surface of the surrounding wall for engaging with the sleeve engaging member of the cup lid.
 20. The cup assembly of claim 15, wherein said cup lid further includes a cover portion surrounded by said cup surrounding portion, said cup surrounding portion including an inner region that extends peripherally and upwardly from said cover portion, an outer region that extends peripherally and downwardly from said inner region so as to cooperate with the inner region to define said clipping groove, said sleeve engaging member 23 being connected to and extending upward from said outer region, said cup lid being further formed with a liquid outlet, said top portion of said sleeve body being formed with a top open end 111 and an indented edge that extends downwardly from said top open end toward said bottom portion and that corresponds in position to said liquid outlet of said cup lid. 